§ 14-3.1

Compliance with Regulations

[Amended 7-11-2019; Ord. 5/31/06, §§ 1 — 3; Ord. 6/23/94, Art. 3; 6-12-2025]

The regulations set by this chapter within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land. In addition, § 14-4 contains dimensional regulations and § 14-5 contains supplementary regulations which apply to specific conditions, areas or uses.

a. Principal Use. Table 1-A - Table of Principal Use Regulations is designed to regulate principal land uses in two zoning districts in the Town. A principal use is the main or primary use of the land or building.
b. Accessory Use. Table 1-B - Table of Accessory Use Regulations is designed to regulate accessory uses. An accessory use is any use of land or of a building (or portion thereof) that is customarily incidental to and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building. An accessory use shall be restricted to the same lot as the principal use and shall not be permitted without the principal use to which it is related. Home occupations (see Subsection 14-5.6) are accessory uses.
c. Use Code. Each land use or use group is identified by a use code number and is a separate use. The use code is a classification system designed to limit and aid in the interpretation of the use regulations. To the extent a proposed land use is not specifically listed in Table 1A, Table 1B or subsection 14-5.6, the property owner may submit a written request to the Building Official for an evaluation and determination of whether the proposed use is of a similar type, character, and intensity as a listed use requiring a special-use permit. The Building Official will have 15 days to provide a written evaluation to the property owner. Upon such determination, the proposed use may be considered to be a use requiring a special-use permit.
d. Public Utilities and Public Services. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed so as to limit or interfere with the construction, installation, operation and maintenance for public utility purposes of main line and conduits, including, but not limited to electric light and electric power transmission and distribution lines, telephone lines, cable television lines, water and sewer mains, natural gas pipes and incidental appurtenances and installations.

e. Use Regulations. Permitted uses are denoted with a "Y" for yes. Uses which are not permitted are denoted with an "N" for no. Uses permitted only upon approval of the Zoning Board or Planning Board are denoted with an "S" for special use permit. A special use permit shall only be approved in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Any number of uses may be located on a lot provided each use is permitted and all other requirements of this chapter are met.

Table 1-A - Table of Principal Use Regulations
Use #	Principal Uses	Residential (R)	Business (B)
A	AGRICULTURAL & FISHING
A1	Agricultural uses including the growing, processing, value added production, displays, education, promotion and sales of agricultural products including, but not limited to wineries.	Y	Y
A2	Agricultural uses-raising of pigs, provided that there are not more than 2 adult pigs per acre, not to exceed 25 pigs on any 1 lot and that there shall be a fifty-foot buffer between the pig pen and property line or a 100-foot buffer between the pig pen and an abutting residence.	Y	Y
A3	Aquacultural uses - storage of nets, sealed bait barrels, lobster traps, and related fishing equipment.	Y	Y
A4	Handling and transfer of seafood, but not processing.	N	Y
A5	Aquacultural uses including raising, harvesting, sales, promotion, and displays of aquacultural products including, but not limited to fish farming.	S	S
R	RESIDENTIAL
R1	Single-family detached dwelling.	Y	Y
R2	Duplex (2 household units) on 3 acres, provided that 1 unit is affordable with affordability restrictions in place and subject to development plan review by the Planning Board.	Y	Y
R2A	Duplex (2 household units) on 2 acres, provided that 1 unit is affordable with affordability restrictions in place and subject to development plan review by the Planning Board.	S	S
R2B	Duplex (2 household units) on any legally established lot of record less than 2 acres provided both units shall be affordable with affordability restrictions in place, that DEM OWTS approval is obtained and subject to development plan review by the Planning Board.	Y	Y
R3	Multiple family dwelling structure housing a maximum of 6 dwelling units, with no limitations on number of bedrooms. Subject to development plan review by the Planning Board and provided that DEM OWTS approval is obtained and affordability restrictions are in place, for each of the dwelling units.	N*	Y
R3A	Conversion of lawfully existing commercial structures which are legal nonconforming by use into multiple-household affordable housing units. Subject to development plan review by the Planning Board and provided that DEM OWTS approval is obtained and affordability restrictions are in place, for each of the dwelling units. Adaptive reuse projects consistent with R.I. Gen. Laws 45-24-37 are permitted by right.	S	S
R4	Bed and breakfast establishment.	S	Y
R5	Hotel.	N	S
O	OPEN SPACE USES
O1	Reservation for the conservation of animal, plant or marine life or the protection of a natural or historic resource.	Y	Y
O2	Golf course, including driving range as part of the golf course and those facilities normally associated with a country club, but not including commercial miniature golf courses.	Y	Y
O3	Tennis courts, pickleball courts, or basketball courts, outdoors and not lighted.	S	Y
O4	Tennis courts, pickleball courts, or basketball courts, outdoors and lighted.	S	Y
O5	Public or quasi-public park, playground or athletic field.	Y	Y
O6	Riding stable.	S	N
O7	Public or private bathing beach or public swimming pool.	S	Y
O8	Day camp for children or youth.	S	S
O9	Cemetery, mausoleum or columbarium.	S	S
I	INSTITUTIONAL
I1	Local government building, facility, office.	S	Y
I2	Public safety building.	S	Y
I3	Government facility for waste disposal, waste transfer, or public works	S	S
I4	Church or other place of worship.	Y	Y
I5	Public transit shelter or station.	S	Y
I6	Public utility facility for electric power, natural gas, telephone, cable television, public water supply or public sewer service.	Y	Y
I7	Public utility facility which is customarily open for public business.	N	Y
I8	Charitable institution, club, lodge or community center operated by a nonprofit organization, not including any commercial activity.	S	Y
I9	Medical treatment facility.	N	S
I10	Day care - Family day care home.	Y	Y
I11	Public, private or quasi-public day care center, nursery, kindergarten, elementary, secondary or higher education facility.	S	Y
I12	Nursing home.	S	S
I13	Community residence.	Y	Y
I14	Public utility structure other than an office.	S	S
C	COMMERCIAL
C1	Temporary real estate office for an area under development, limited to a duration of 1 year.	Y	Y
C2	General business office or office building.	N	Y
C3	Bank or other financial institution.	N	Y
C4	Retail store, drug store or specialty shop, grocery or other food store 10,000 square feet GFA or less.	N	Y
C5	Shop providing service to the public such as: watch repair, small appliance repair, barber shop, beauty shop, shoe repair and others of a similar nature.	N	Y
C6	Commercial off-street parking facility.	N	Y
C7	Commercial boat dock, pier or wharf.	N	S
C8	Mortuary or funeral home.	N	S
C9	Trade or professional school.	N	S
C10	Commercial recreation building.	N	S
C11	Commercial school offering instruction in music, dance, voice and others.	N	S
C12	Office or retail outlet for a wholesale or manufacturing use.	N	S
C13	Restaurant, lunch room, cafe, tavern.	N	S
C14	Fast food restaurant.	N	N
C15	Package liquor store.	N	S
C16	Dry-cleaning plant or coin-operated laundry.	N	N
C17	Theatre or concert hall.	N	S
C18	Automotive, trailer, e-bike, or other vehicle sales or rental establishment.	N	S
C19	Gasoline service station.	N	S
C20	Retail or wholesale business involving the storage of machinery, building materials, sand, gravel or fuels.	N	S
C21	Shop providing repair and related services for small appliances, machinery, tools, agricultural implements and others of a similar nature.	N	Y
C22	General automotive repairs, including the parking or storage of motor vehicles and other motorized equipment.	N	S
C23	Kennel, dog day care or training center.	N	N
C24	Principal solar energy systems or virtual metering systems that produce electricity to be sold.	N	S
M	MANUFACTURING
M1	Seafood processing.	N	N
M2	Manufacturing, packaging, assembling, fabricating and storage of products made on the premises from previously prepared raw materials.	N	N
M3	Bakery or catering establishment with no more than 3,000 square feet of GFA.	N	Y
M4	Manufacture of articles from metal, wood, stone, clay, glass, ceramics, paper, leather or similar materials for display, wholesale or retail sales, provided that no more than 2,500 square feet GFA be used.	N	S

*The Town Council will consider zoning amendments from the R Zone to the B Zone, for affordable housing proposals within 1/4 mile of any B zone existing on May 31, 2006.

Table 1-B - Table of Accessory Use Regulations
Use #	Accessory Uses	Residential (R)	Business (B)
1	Structures and/or activities normally accessory to and required for the operation of a permitted use. Such an accessory use or structure shall be located on the site of the principal use and may include such items as parking facilities, agricultural buildings, sheds, garages and similar uses or structures.	Y	Y
2	Structures and/or activities normally accessory to and required for the operation of any special use permit listed above, provided that such facility or use shall be located on the site of the principal use.	S	S
3	Living quarters accessory to business use for the sole occupancy of the proprietor, owner or a representative of either of the principal business uses.	S	S
4	The renting of no more than 2 bedrooms in an existing residential structure.	Y	Y
5	Roof-mounted accessory solar system located within historically critical areas described in subsection 14-5.14e4 .	N/A	S
6	Ground-mounted accessory solar system equal to or less than 1,000 square feet (subsection 14-5.14 )	Y	Y
7	Ground-mounted accessory solar system greater than 1,000 square feet (subsection 14-5.14 )	S	S
8	Accessory-principal agricultural solar energy system (subsection 14-5.14 )	S	S
9	Wireless communication facility (subsection 14-5.12 )	S	S